Checkerwork



Oct. 21, 1941. H. w. WALTERS I 2,259,913

CHECKERWORK Filed July 5,1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Get21; 19410 H. w. WALTERS I CHECKERWORK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed July 5,1940 W 2% 2mm ATTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1941. AL ERS 2,259,913'

CHECKERWORK Filed July 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l atented ct. El, @941stares 2,259,913 K crincnnnwonn Harry W. Walters, Cincinnati, OhioApplication July 5, 1940, serial No. 343,955

4 Claims.

vision of a checker structure which is of a highly open nature todecrease the resistance to the passage of gas, but which has a largemass available for the absorption and dissipation of heat. To fulfillthis object, the present invention includes spaced walls of bricks of athickness such that during a norm'al cycle of operation the entire bodyheats to a uniform degree, the bricks being laid up in courses withtheir ends spaced apart to form communicating openings between the flueson each side of each wall, and with the bricks in successive rowsbreaking joints, the walls so formed being connected by spaced,staggered tie members. 7

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a checker structurewhich is highly open, and in which the individual bricks, as well as thewalls formed therefrom, are securely locked against displacement.

Still another object. of the invention is the provision of a checkerstructure which includes spaced walls tied together by diagonallyrelated members which define diagonal gas paths withinthe flues formedby the walls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention.

will become apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectionthrough the length of a regenerative chamber filled with checker work inaccordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionthrough the width of such a chamber; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of aportion of the checker work formed in accordance with the presentinvention; Fig. 415 a perspective view of a single block of the typeused in the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tieblock used to prevent relative displacement of the several walls; Fig. 6is a fragmentary perspective view of the checker work modified forparticular application to water gas machines; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary,diagrammatic elevation of the checker work shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8is a perspective view of a turbulence block as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the present invention includes spaced wallsconsisting of the individual blocks shown in Fig. 4 laid up andconnected as hereinafter described. Each block (designated generally by6) consists of a substantially rectangular body I of fire clay or othersuitable material, the long faces of which have fins 8 projectingtherefrom. Each fin 8 is a vertically extensive mass of such thicknessthat it is completely and uniformly heated during a normally long cycleof operation. Similarly, the thickness of the body"! is such that italso is substantially completely heated during the cycle, taking intoconsideration that the heat penetration is approximately one inch infire brick during the nor mal period between reversals of a regenerativefurnace. v

- The fins 8 are equally spaced along the sidewalls of the blocks 6and-are similar in area to the spaces left between them. This providesbricks which may be used in conjunctionwith each. other to build solidwalls after they have served their purpose as checkers; It is onlynecessary to insert the fins of one brick into the spaces between thefins of another brick to build 7 up a satisfactory solid wall from brickwhich might otherwise be considered scrap. I

The body 1 of each block is grooved longitudinally as at 9 on" thecenter-of its bottom face and is provided with a tongue in on the top.By this expedient each block has provision for a tongueand grooveconnection with blocks in the next succeeding course both above andbelow so as to prevent relative lateral displacementwhen the blocks arelaid up in walls.

The present invention contemplates spaced parallel fiues in the checkerwork, each flue being defined bywalls. made up of the blocks 6. It haslong been known that gases passing through a structure of this kind havea tendency-to "channel or to pass repeatedlyin certain portions ofcertain fiues .to a greater extent than in others, so that at least aportion of the checker work is comparatively inactive. To reduce thistendency, various expedients have been used, principally directed toguiding the gases equally into the entrances of the several fines. Ithas also been protribution. Such proposals have been, in the main,haphazard, and confined almost entirely to the two ends of the fluesfollowing the same principles which dictated the policy of distributingthe gases prior to their entrance into the checker 7 work. 'In thepresent invention, however, the

blocks comprising the walls are so laid, and the A walls are sointerconnected as to provide diagonal each series of tie blocks. forthegases between the walls are open bothseries of spaced tie blocks I2alternating diagonally with fiue connecting openings l3, and a completediagonal series of openings I4 between. In this way the paths" of afirst course of blocks 6 laid with their ends spaced apart. The .secondcourse consists of a similar row of.blocks laid over the openings between the blocks of the firstcourse, with their ends similarly spacedand breaking joints with the blocks of the first row. The third, fifth,seventh, etc., courses are similar in disposition to the first, whilethe second, fourth, sixth, eighth, etc., are similar to the second.

In the even numbered courses (2, 6, 8, etc.) alternate openings betweenthe blocks receive the tie blocks l2. However, instead of the tie blocksbeing disposed in a vertical series, they are disposed in mutuallystaggered relationship and are hence diagonally related. It will be seenthat the unobstructed vertical area between the tie blocks is equal tothe length of a block 6 and that the diagonal paths in the fines are'ofeven greater area. It will also be seen that between each diagonalseries of tie blocks a diagonal series of openings I4 is provided andthat between each tie block of each series an additional interconnectingcourses which prevents the free ends of the' blocks, adjacent the flueconnecting openings. from being displaced laterally.

By reason of the fact that substantially the entire volume of each block6 and of each tie block is available for the absorption and dissipationof heat, I am enabled to employ a checker work having much more numerousvoids or openings therein than is the usual practice.

Each tie block 12 is provided on its lower surface with spacedgrooves'lG which engage the tongues of the blocks 6 which support thetie blocks so that the walls are firmly connected. It will be noted inFig. 2 that each tie block laps two Walls and terminates in the centerof a flue and that vertically succeeding tie'blocks are used to connectdifferent pairs of walls. An extremely rigid structure is thus providedwhich is not likely to collapse even after considerable erosion hastaken place.

If desired, headers may be placed above the topmost series of blocks andmay be given a work. This may be readily accomplished by inserting athin turbulence block 2| in each opening of the vertical series betweenthe tie'blocks. Preferably the turbulence blocks are diagonally disposedand each in the direction opposite to that of its neighbors.

While the invention has been described in connection with individualbricks of a particular character, it should be expressly understood thatany brick capable of sustaining the mechanical load and having theproper heat absorption characteristics, may be utilized. Various otherchanges will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and itshould be expressly understood that such changes are within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent, is:

l. Checker Work for regenerative furnaces or the like, having spacedparallel walls, each composed of successive rows of brick laid withtheir ends spaced apart to form openings connecting the flues formed bythe walls and with the brick of successive rows breaking joints, andwall tying members in mutually staggered relation mounted in alternateopenings-of alternate rows to provide diagonal series each comprisingalternate openings and tie members and diagonal series of openingsalternating with said first series.

2. Checker work for regenerative furnaces or the like, having spacedparallel walls forming vertical flues with each wall comprisingsuccessive rows of oblong brick, one over another, with the brick ofeach row endwise spaced to provide openings therebetween connecting saidfiues and with the brick of successive rows breaking joints to disposesaid openings in diagonal series, and horizontally disposed tie membersof elongated block form for connecting adjoining walls, said tie membersdisposed in diagonal series and mounted in predetermined openings ofalternate series with the members substantially filling the openings,whereby diagonal flue paths are provided between the walls with a fullrow of unobstructed openings in register with each path and with atleast one unobstructed opening be ween each adtapered o'r stream-linedform to decrease turbuentrance and exit into and from the fines. Suchheaders may be made of a highly refractory material capable ofwithstanding not only mechanical erosion but chemical reaction with thegases passing through the checker work. The headers may thus serve'as aprotection for the fire brick which they cover.

When the invention is applied to certain specialized structures such aswater gas machines, it may be desirable to change the form of the tieblocks l2 and to introduce turbulence producing blocks into the checkerwork. As shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the disposition of the ribbed blocks6 remains the same, but the tie blocks 20, instead of completely fillinga spacebetween two ribbed blocks are reduced to half the thickness. Thespan of the tie blocks may be increased to overlie three walls ifdesired.

Further, it is sometimes necessary to increase the turbulence of the gasfiow within the checker jacent pair of tie members of a series.

3. Checker work for regenerative furnaces or the like, having spacedparallel walls forming vertical fiues, each wall being composed of aplurality of rows of oblong brick, one over another, with the brick ofeach row endwise spaced to provide openings therebetweenconnecting saidflues and with the brick of successive rows breaking joints so that eachbrick completely bridges a respective opening of the next underlyingrow, and tie members ,of block form for the successive walls mounted inpredetermined openings of alternate rows and extending into said fluesinto endwise abutting relationship, whereby said tie members definediagonal paths for traversing said flues.

4. Checker work for regenerative furnaces or the like, having spacedwalls forming vertical fines, each wall comprising brick laid withspaced diagonally related openings tie members for the walls mounted insaid openings and spanning at least two walls, and interlocking meansformed on said tie members and on the bricks with which they engage,said tie members spanning at least two walls and being disposed inendwise abutting relationship at points between said walls and definingdiagonal gas paths in the flue.

HARRY W. WALTERS.

